Measure Would Repeal Federal Gun-Free School Zone Law

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., chairman of the newly formed Second Amendment Caucus in the House of Representatives, introduced legislation last week that would repeal the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. H.R. 34, the Safe Students Act, would repeal the act that makes it “unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.”

Co-sponsored by Reps. Brian Babin, R-Texas; James Comer, R-Ky.; Louie Gohmert, R-Texas; and Jody Hice, R-Ga., H.R. 34 has the support of NRA and other gun-rights groups. As Massie noted, “Gun-free school zones are ineffective. They make people less safe by inviting criminals into target-rich, no-risk environments.”

In the aftermath of the Fort Lauderdale Airport shooting, USA TODAYreported on the efforts of Florida state Sen. Greg Steube to eliminate state law establishing gun-free zones. “Gun-free zones don’t prevent criminals from breaking the law and killing innocent victims,” said Steube. “All that law did was prevent law-abiding citizens who have a concealed-carry permit from carrying their firearm in defense of themselves and others.”

“We have more guns in the U.S. than adults.” Irrelevant: We also have more cars.

“Our gun-related suicide rate is eight times higher than other high-income nations.” In the statistic that really matters, the U.S. ranks only 50th in suicides of any kind, trailing South Korea, Russia, Japan, Finland, Belgium, Iceland and France.

“Guns exist for the sole purpose of killing.” Then what are the nearly 265 million guns, in their estimate, that haven’t killed anyone for?

Hearing Protection Act Introduced In Congress

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., and U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, have introduced an important measure that gives gun owners and sportsmen the opportunity to better protect their hearing, a move that has drawn praise from the National Rifle Association.

The Hearing Protection Act, H.R. 367, would remove suppressors from regulation under the National Firearms Act, replacing the federal transfer process with a National Instant Criminal Background Check. The bill would also greatly reduce the cost of purchasing a suppressor by removing the $200 transfer tax.

“Many gun owners and sportsmen suffer severe hearing loss after years of shooting, and yet the tool necessary to reduce such loss is onerously regulated and taxed. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “The Duncan-Carter Hearing Protection Act would allow people easier access to suppressors, which would help them to better protect their hearing.”

A gambit by the California Department of Justice (DOJ)—which might violate California law—in implementing regulations on newly classified “Bullet Button Assault Weapons” has prompted the NRA and California Rifle and Pistol Association to issue “demand” letters calling on the DOJ to withdraw its regulations and, failing that, for the Office of Administrative Law to reject the DOJ’s regulations.

The core of the complaint is that even though California’s regular rulemaking process requires state agencies to provide at least 45 days for public comment on any regulation, the DOJ’s “bullet button” gun regulations were submitted as “File and Print” only—meaning no public comment allowed. In an attempt to further circumvent the will of the people, the regulations were submitted the day before Christmas Eve—for a law set to go into effect on New Year’s Day!

Worse still, the regulations DOJ submitted include over 40 new definitions; requiring gun owners to provide extensive and excessive personal information, as well as photos of their firearms; expanding the “assault weapon” definition to include many shotguns; and more. It sounds like a blank check for California gun control without legislative approval or even public input. Stay tuned.

Florida Man Saves Family Returning Home, Shoots Intruder

When a Sarasota family returned from a short trip and opened the front door, something just didn’t seem right. They noticed moved, misplaced and used items. Then they saw the intruder—who suddenly charged the homeowner swinging a baseball bat.

Fortunately for the family, the homeowner was carrying his gun. During the struggle, he fired at the suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Glenn Edward Oliver, fatally wounding him. Oliver, who had broken into the residence through a window, had been waiting for the family to come home.

Florida police told CBS 10 News that Oliver had a widespread history of criminal activity, and had just been released from prison after serving a 10-year sentence for armed robbery and carjacking. Investigators reported the shooting was in self-defense, so the homeowner will not face charges.